Federal Aviation Administration March 2021 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Safran Helicopter Engines, S.A. Arriel 2C, 2C1, 2S1, and 2S2 model turboshaft engines. This AD was prompted by investigations by the manufacturer following level 1 failures in flight (minor anomalies) and level 2 failures on the ground (minor failures), where cracks were found on the soldered joints of torque conformation boxes. This AD requires performing initial and repetitive inspections of the resistance values of the torque conformation box and, depending on the results of the inspections, replacement of the torque conformation box. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Airbus SAS Model A350-941 and -1041 airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by a report of in-production findings of missing or incorrect application of the lightning strike edge glow sealant protection at specific locations in the wing tanks. This proposed AD would require an inspection for missing or incorrect application of the lightning strike edge glow sealant protection at certain locations in the wing tanks, and corrective action, as specified in a European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD, which is proposed for incorporation by reference. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. (Pilatus) Model PC-24 airplanes. This proposed AD results from mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) originated by an aviation authority of another country to identify and correct an unsafe condition on an aviation product. The MCAI identifies the unsafe condition as the need to revise certain airworthiness limitations and certification maintenance instructions. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

In accordance with the memorandum of January 20, 2021, from the Assistant to the President and Chief of Staff, titled ``Regulatory Freeze Pending Review,'' the Agency delays the March 16, 2021, effective date of the final rule, ``Remote Identification of Unmanned Aircraft'', until April 21, 2021. As a result of the delay in the effective date, the Agency is also delaying the compliance date for the production requirements for remote identification broadcast modules by correcting the regulatory text.

The FAA proposes to amend two Jet Routes and one VHF Omnidirectional Range (VOR) Federal Airway; establish one low altitude RNAV route; and revoke one Domestic Low Altitude Reporting Point, in the northcentral United States. This action is necessary due to the planned decommissioning of the VOR portion of the Humboldt, MN, VOR/ Tactical Air Navigation (VORTAC) which provides navigation guidance to portions of the affected Air Traffic Service (ATS) routes. The Humboldt VOR is being decommissioned as part of the FAA's VOR Minimum Operational Network (VOR MON) program.

This action amends Jet Route J-134, Area Navigation (RNAV) route Q-67, and VHF Omnidirectional Range (VOR) Federal airways V-45 and V-119; establishes RNAV route Q-176; and removes Jet Route J-91 and VOR Federal airway V-174 in the vicinity of Henderson, WV. The Air Traffic Service (ATS) route modifications are necessary due to the planned decommissioning of the VOR portion of the Henderson, WV, VOR/ Tactical Air Navigation (VORTAC) navigation aid (NAVAID). The Henderson VORTAC provides navigation guidance for portions of the affected air traffic service (ATS) routes and the VOR portion is being decommissioned as part of the FAA's VOR Minimum Operational Network (MON) program.

This action proposes to establish Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface for Doylestown Airport, Doylestown, PA, to accommodate area navigation (RNAV) global positioning system (GPS) standard instrument approach procedures (SIAPs) serving this airport. Controlled airspace is necessary for the safety and management of instrument flight rules (IFR) operations in the area.

The FAA proposes to supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2019-07-07 for various Airbus Helicopters Deutschland GmbH (Airbus Helicopters) Model MBB-BK117 and Model BO-105 helicopters. AD 2019-07- 07 requires removing certain part numbered swashplate bellows (bellows) from service, cleaning and inspecting certain parts, and depending on the inspection results removing certain parts from service, applying torque, and repetitively inspecting the swashplate assembly (swashplate). AD 2019-07-07 also prohibits the installation of certain part-numbered bellows. This proposed AD would retain certain requirements of AD 2019-07-07, expand the installation prohibition, add additional inspections, and update the applicable service information. The actions of this proposed AD are intended to address an unsafe condition on these products.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, FAA invites public comments about our intention to request the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval to renew an information collection. The Federal Register Notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting comments on the following collection of information was published on October 14, 2020. The collection involves the requirement for Helicopter Air Ambulance Operators to report certain information to the FAA. The FAA collects 14 pieces of data from helicopter air ambulance operators, 8 of which are mandated in the report to Congress. We collect data on the following: Number of helicopters, helicopter base locations, number of hours the helicopters are flown, number of patients transported, number of transportation requests accepted or denied, number of accidents, number of instrument flight hours flown, number of night flight hours flown, number of incidents, and the rate of accidents or incidents per 100,000 flight hours. The information to be collected will be used in helping the FAA develop risk mitigation strategies and provide information to Congress.

The FAA inadvertently published the same final action twice, on February 23, 2021, and again on March 1, 2021. FAA is withdrawing the second, duplicate publication.

The FAA is withdrawing a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) that proposed to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) that would have applied to certain Bell Helicopter Textron Canada Model 206A, 206B, and 206B3 helicopters. The NPRM was prompted by the need for corresponding operating limitations prohibiting flight, including hover, with the litter doorpost removed when certain litter kits are installed. The NPRM would have required revising the Operating Limitations, Section 1, of the existing Rotorcraft Flight Manual (RFM) for your helicopter to add an operating limitation when a litter kit is installed to prohibit flight with the doorpost removed to prevent loss of structural integrity of the fuselage. Since issuance of the NPRM, the FAA has determined that an unsafe condition no longer exists. Accordingly, the NPRM is withdrawn.

This action corrects the final rule published in the Federal Register on January 21, 2021, amending the Class D and Class E airspace and revoking the Class E airspace designated as an extension to Class D and Class E surface areas at Muskegon County Airport, Muskegon, MI. The word ``Airport'' was inadvertently omitted from the Class E surface area airspace legal description for Muskegon County Airport.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Airbus Helicopters Model AS350B, AS350BA, AS350B1, AS350B2, AS350D, AS355E, AS355F, AS355F1, AS355F2, and AS355N helicopters. This AD was prompted by two reports of debonding of the tail rotor (T/R) blade leading edge protection shields. This AD requires repetitively inspecting certain T/R blades and depending on the inspection results, replacing the T/R blade, as specified in a European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD, which is incorporated by reference (IBR). This AD also prohibits installing certain T/R blades. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Airbus SAS Model A330-200, -300, -800, and -900 series airplanes; and Model A340-200, -300, -500, and -600 series airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by reports that certain oxygen supply solenoid valves are a potential source of increased flow resistance within the flightcrew oxygen system. This proposed AD would require a special detailed inspection (flow test) of certain solenoid valves, and replacement if necessary, as specified in a European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD, which is proposed for incorporation by reference. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The FAA is revising a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2014-25-04, which applies to all Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. (Pilatus) Model PC-6, PC-6-H1, PC-6-H2, PC-6/350, PC-6/350-H1, PC-6/350-H2, PC-6/A, PC-6/A-H1, PC-6/A-H2, PC-6/B-H2, PC- 6/B1-H2, PC-6/B2-H2, PC-6/B2-H4, PC-6/C-H2, and PC-6/C1-H2 airplanes. This action revises the NPRM by adding an eddy current inspection of each fuselage wing fitting if an earlier version of the service information was accomplished. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products. Since these actions would impose an additional burden over those in the NPRM, the FAA is requesting comments on this SNPRM.

The FAA is withdrawing a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) that proposed to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) that would have applied to certain Eurocopter France (now Airbus Helicopters) Model AS350B, BA, B1, B2, B3, C, D, and D1; EC-130B4; and AS355E, F, F1, F2, and N helicopters. The NPRM would have required modifying the collective hold-down strap (strap) and thereafter inspecting it at specified intervals to ensure the rubber grommet is resting against the console or replacing the strap with a strap that has a torsional spring at the lower end of the strap. Since issuance of the NPRM, the FAA issued AD 2014-02-05, which addresses the unsafe condition identified in the NPRM. Accordingly, the NPRM is withdrawn.

This action modifies the Class D airspace at Four Corners Regional Airport, Farmington, NM. This action also modifies the Class E airspace, designated as a surface area, to match the modified Class D dimensions. Additionally, this action modifies the Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface. Further, this action removes the Class E airspace, extending upward from 1,200 feet above the surface. This action also removes the Four Corners Regional ILS Localizer and the Farmington VORTAC from the legal descriptions' text headers and airspace descriptions. Lastly, this action implements several administrative corrections to the Class D, Class E2, and Class E5 airspaces' legal descriptions.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Airbus Helicopters Deutschland GmbH Model MBB-BK117 D-2 helicopters. This proposed AD was prompted by reports that collective lever switch units having certain part numbers did not have retaining rings installed in the cable cut switch guard. This proposed AD would require inspecting certain collective lever switch units for discrepancies (missing retaining rings, incorrectly installed retaining rings, and a missing axis in the cable cut switch guard), doing all applicable corrective actions, and marking affected parts, as specified in a European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD, which is proposed for incorporation by reference (IBR). The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

This action removes VHF Omni-directional Range Federal airway V-346 and V-400, in the vicinity of Beauce, Canada. This action is necessary due to Canada's civil air navigation services provider, NAV Canada, planned decommissioning of the Beauce, Canada, VHF Omni-directional Range (VOR)/Distance Measuring Equipment (DME) navigation aid, which provides navigation guidance for segments of the routes. NAV Canada has deleted the portions of both airways that resided in their airspace.

This action proposes to modify the Class D airspace, at Meadows Field Airport. This action also proposes to modify the Class E airspace designated as a surface area and the Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface. Additionally, this action proposes several administrative corrections to the Class D, Class E2, and Class E5 text headers. Lastly, this action proposes to update the term ``Airport/Facility Directory'' in the last sentence of the Class D's airspace description to ``Chart Supplement.'' This action would ensure the safety and management of instrument flight rules (IFR) operations at the airport.

This action proposes to modify the Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface at Delano Municipal Airport, Delano, CA. The airspace modification is necessary to properly contain instrument flight rules (IFR) aircraft operating to/from the airport. This action also proposes to update the airport's geographical coordinates to match the FAA database. This action would ensure the safety and management of IFR operations at the airport.

The FAA proposes to supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2016-11-21 for Airbus Helicopters Deutschland GmbH (Airbus Helicopters) Model EC135P1, EC135P2, EC135P2+, EC135T1, EC135T2, and EC135T2+ helicopters. AD 2016-11-21 requires revising the life limit of certain parts and removing each part that has reached its life limit. Since the FAA issued AD 2016-11-21, new models were certified. This proposed AD would expand the applicability to include Model EC135P3 and EC135T3 helicopters. This proposed AD would also revise the life limits for certain parts and propose to remove each part that has reached or exceeded its life limit. The actions of this proposed AD are intended to address an unsafe condition on these products.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Textron Aviation Inc. (Textron) (type certificate previously held by Cessna Aircraft Company) Models 208 and 208B airplanes. This AD was prompted by reports of loose elevator torque tube attach fasteners. This AD requires repetitively inspecting the inboard and outboard elevator torque tube attachments for loose or incorrectly installed fasteners, replacing all fasteners if loose or incorrectly installed fasteners are found, and reporting the inspection results to the FAA. This AD also includes optional actions to terminate the repetitive inspections. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

Notice is being given that the FAA is considering a proposal from the County of Jackson Airport Director to change certain portions of the airport from aeronautical use to non- aeronautical use at Rogue Valley International-Medford Airport, Medford, Oregon. The proposal consists of a partial parcel on the southwest corner of the airfield.

This rule establishes, amends, suspends, or removes Standard Instrument Approach Procedures (SIAPS) and associated Takeoff Minimums and Obstacle Departure procedures (ODPs) for operations at certain airports. These regulatory actions are needed because of the adoption of new or revised criteria, or because of changes occurring in the National Airspace System, such as the commissioning of new navigational facilities, adding new obstacles, or changing air traffic requirements. These changes are designed to provide safe and efficient use of the navigable airspace and to promote safe flight operations under instrument flight rules at the affected airports.